Device for destroying torpedo-nets.



W. GOLSTEYN.

DEVICE FOR DESTROYING TORPEDO NETS.

APPLIUATION FILED APR.12, 1912.

COLUIBIA PLANOORAPH $0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

UNITED DEVICE FOR DESTROYING TORPEDO-NETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed April 12, 1912. Serial No. 690,356.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLEM GoLsTni'N, of the Royal Dutch Navy, subject of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, residing at Amsterdam, Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in De vices for Detroying Torpedo-Nets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The specification of my earlier application No. 6589M filed 7th of November 1911 describes a device for destroying torpedo nets by means of auxiliary projectiles wherein a number of firing tubes are arranged parallel to the axis of the torpedo in the nose of the torpedo, and are adapted to discharge piston-like projectiles carrying a common cutting ring. The impact of the torpedo against a torpedo net forces these projectiles back into their firing tubes whereby the charges contained in the latter are exploded, and the cutting ring carried by the projectiles being discharged ahead of the torpedo, is projected against the torpedo net so as to destroy the latter.

The present invention now consists in a modification of the aforesaid device having as its essential characteristic the feature that instead of a plurality of firing tubes only one firing tube of annular cross section is employed.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an axial section through the nose of the torpedo, and Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line AB of Fig. 1.

In this device it is assumed that instead of the torpedo being fired by means of a firing pin arranged in the nose of the torpedo as described in the aforesaid specification the torpedo is fired by means of one of those known firing devices in which the initial ignition is effected by a firing pin provided in the interior of the torpedo, which firing pin is brought into operation by the momentum of a movable heavy body when the torpedo strikes the ships hull (as shown in GT1'])1ELI1 Patent Nr. 235650 dated 20, VIII, 1910 In the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a single firing tube is provided at the nose of the torpedo. This firing tube which is re cessed in the torpedo '21 has a bore of annular cross section, that is to say, the firing tube is composed of two concentric cylinders 0%,? connected together at their bases. Correspondingly to the annular bore of the firing tube m, m. the projectile consists of a thick walled annular body a; the outer end of which is formed as a cutting ring 72. or it may carry a separate cutting ring by means of suitable arms. An annular charge 0 which is situated at the base of the annular firing tube m, TL is adapted to be exploded by means of cartridges 3 and the firing pins 2, 2 secured to the rear end of the ring shaped projectile a. On the annular projectile a being forced back by the torpedo striking a torpedo net, the retaining pin t is sheared through with the result that the charge 0 is fired and the ring shaped projectile is projected from the torpedo by reason of its additional velocity due to its discharge and acts in the well known manner.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A device for destroying torpedo nets comprising a casing, a firing tube composed of two concentric cylinders recessed in said casing and connected together at their bases, an annular projectile in said firing tube, lightly held in the space between said cylinders, firing pins on the inner edge of said annular projectile, and cartridges in said space between said cylinders adapted to be exploded by said pins.

2. A device for destroying torpedo nets comprising a casing, a firing tube composed of two concentric cylinders united at their bases and recessed in said casing, an annular projectile in the space between said cylinders, an easily broken pin to hold said projectile in position, an explosive in said space between said cylinders and means on said projectile to ignite said explosive when the torpedo strikes an obstruction.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLEM GOLSTEYN.

W'itnesses:

P. HILDERING, WILL HAAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

